The 7 Different Forms of Art Explained

different forms of art

ART IS A BOUNDLESS DOMAIN, FILLED WITH ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS, CREATIVITY AND GROWTH.

What is Art?

Since ages, art has been an essential form of human expression, which reflects human creativity and inspiration, overcoming cultural divides and encouraging unity. Even the simple day-to-day living, the daily styling of clothes, the snapping of moments with phones, and listening to music and dancing on the beats, we are engaging with different forms of art.

As explained by Leo Tolstoy, “Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.” According to him, art, in simple terms is a form of expression through which individuals connect deeply through shared feelings.

What are the Different Forms of Art?

Art, today, exist in different countless forms. To group these countless disciplines of creativity, art is categorized in broader umbrella terms as- Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Literary Arts and Digital Art. However, throughout history, seven major forms of art stood out for their intense impact on human expression.  The 7 major forms of art that exist today are:

  1. Painting
  2. Sculpture
  3. Architecture
  4. Literature
  5. Music
  6. Dance
  7. Cinema

All the seven forms affect each other in some manner. These forms of art hold unique positions in the entire spectrum of art and contribute something unique towards human emotion, cognition, and beauty.

1. PAINTING

Mona Lisa
Starry Night

Painting is one of the most colorful and expressive types of art allowing an artist express it’s feelings and ideas on a canvas. Being one of the most prominent form of visual arts, it plays a vital role across different types of forms in art.

Whether it’s a vivid landscape or an abstract splash of colors, painting has the ability to move us, as seen in Vincent van Gogh’s intense brush strokes in Starry Night and Leonardo da Vinci’s subtle swirls in Mona Lisa.

Check out the 10 Greatest Paintings of All Time

2. SCULPTURE

By transforming raw materials into 3-D artwork, sculpture is a powerful art form producing forms that can be seen and touched. With the use of clay, stone, metal and other materials, this tactile type of art tell timeless stories reflecting both historic and modern-day creativity.

Michelangelo’s Moses
and other sculptures highlight the beauty of human form, while contemporary works like Jeff Koons’ reflective balloon animals push the limits of ideas. It is one of the oldest and most impactful type of art.

Michelangelo's Moses

3. ARCHITECTURE

Gothic cathedrals
Sagrada Familia

Architecture, one of the most impactful form of art, shapes the buildings we inhabit by merging art and function. As a powerful art form type, it doesn’t only provide shelter, but reflects culture, identity and technological progress.

The organic shapes of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and tall towers of Gothic cathedrals are examples of how architecture stands as a witness to artistic vision. Zaha Hadid’s flowing designs and eco-buildings demonstrate how architecture as an art form is always evolving. These structures are a perfect tangible example of the ways different kinds of art influence our surroundings.

4. LITERATURE

Harry Potter
Romeo and Juliet

This art form uses written words to convey the depth of human thought and emotion. Being a profound type of art, literature transports readers into entirely different worlds with the use of powerful language and story-telling.

Writings like J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and William Shakespeare’s ageless plays like Romeo and Juliet has the ability to take readers into new, fictional worlds.

Poetry, novels, short stories and essays all offer different perspectives into human experience. As a vital part of different art forms, literature doesn't only reflect, but inspires society.

5. MUSIC

Coldplay
Adele

Music is the universal language of emotion which overcomes boundaries and speaks directly to the soul. It connects people across cultures and generations, creating moments of joy and healing.

From Adele's soul-stirring ballads to Coldplay's timeless anthems, music as an art form has the ability to heal. Each genre has its own rhythm ranging from rock, pop, hip-hop and classical to jazz making it a radiant part of different kinds of art that shape our world.

Music highlights the emotional core of artistic creativity with the use of melodies, instruments and human voice.

6. DANCE

Martha Graham
Michael Jackson

Dance is the art of movement involving the use of body as a means to express emotions and establish a connection with music. It merges physicality and flexibility with creativity to create a dynamic type of art language that speaks beyond words.

Iconic performers and choreographers like Martha Graham and Michael Jackson have pushed the boundaries of this art form. Dance attracts audience with its visual poetry and powerful storytelling.

The unique rhythms of each dance style- ballet, hip-hop, folk dance, contemporary, etc, contributes to the vast spectrum of different art forms.

7. CINEMA

The Godfather
Inception

Cinema is a powerful and immersive form of art that creates cohesive experiences by integrating dance, music, vision and narrative. As the most powerful and influential type of art, it has the ability to reflect society, spark imagination, influence life choices and move audience deeply.

Movies like Inception and The Godfather are a perfect example of the power cinema has to evoke emotions. Each genre offers unique perspective on human condition, ranging from comedy and drama to science fiction and animation.

Cinema is the widely appreciated and most relatable kind of art today due to its accessibility and over-the-top experience.

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